Love like the Galaxy - V1C16
Chapter 16
Aunt Ge entrusts Madam Xiao with Cheng Yang
"...Aunt, please take me home. I want to go back, I want to go home!"
"Ah, Yang Yang[1], this is your home now, with your parents and family..."
But Cheng Yang wailed even louder: "Since I was young, you've taught me to be filial. When Father was unhappy, I could at least help him. But Mother... On my second day here, she sent Niao Niao away, and I later learned that Niao Niao nearly lost her life! She has hardly spoken to me since, focusing only on Ou Er[2], scolding Father, badmouthing Aunt Xiao in front of Grandmother, plotting terrible things... I... I’m so ashamed... I can't stay here, Aunt. Please take me home..."
Aunt Ge felt her heart ache. Cheng Yang had been brought to her when she was an infant, long before Aunt Ge had grandchildren of her own, and her own children were grown. She had raised this little girl as if she were her own, from her babbling infancy to her dutiful girlhood—gentle, sincere, and obedient. Aunt Ge loved her more than anything.
Through tears, she said, "Yang Yang, listen to me. Your future lies with the Cheng family—" But before she could finish, Cheng Yang cried out, "I don’t want a future! I want you and Uncle!"
Madam Xiao sighed and quickly had a maid announce their arrival.
Shao Shang thought, "Hmm, it looks like Cheng Yang wasn’t close to the original Cheng Shao Shang either." That's probably for the best.
Upon entering, they saw Aunt Ge and Cheng Yang hurriedly wiping away tears and straightening their clothing. Madam Xiao sat down as if nothing was amiss, greeting everyone cheerfully. As they exchanged pleasantries, Shao Shang learned that Grandfather Ge, now frail with age, had gone to bed early, while Cheng Cheng[3] had been taken out for drinks and venting by his brother, Cheng Shi[4].
Only her husband would think to drag his freshly divorced former in-law out for drinks, Madam Xiao scoffed inwardly, but maintained her smile, encouraging her daughter to perform the formal greetings. Shao Shang promptly exhibited her training, gracefully bending at the waist with arms outstretched in a formal bow—a proper ceremonial gesture. Given the New Year gifts the Ge family had brought her, her courtesy was not wasted.
Aunt Ge lavished praise on her, though her compliments were solely about Shao Shang's looks and her bowing technique. She skillfully avoided mentioning any traditionally feminine skills such as music, chess, calligraphy, painting, or household management.
"My sister-in-law..." Aunt Ge began to apologize again for Ge Shi, but Madam Xiao cut her off sharply: "Elder Sister, there's no need for that. Our families are neighbors. We know the situation well. Haven’t you endured her, too? As the elder sister-in-law, you're like a mother, yet you haven’t been able to discipline her properly. You've borne it all without complaining!"
Aunt Ge sighed. "My troubles ended when she married into your family, shifting the burden to you." Madam Xiao shook her head with a hint of irony. "Now that Grandfather has taken her back, it's your responsibility once more. Really, I've done you wrong." Aunt Ge waved her hand with a smile. "At my age, how could I allow her to mistreat me? Before we left, my husband arranged for her to stay at the neighboring estate to reflect on her behavior. She mistakenly believes she will still be the pampered young lady of the Ge family from the past."
Madam Xiao recalled Uncle Ge's furious slap earlier that day and nodded. "That's good."
As they discussed Ge Shi[5], they noticed the two girls beside them. Cheng Yang looked very uncomfortable hearing criticism of her biological mother, gripping her knees with her head nearly to the floor. In contrast, Cheng Shaoshang remained serene, exhibiting neither anger nor schadenfreude. Instead, she casually inspected the furnishings of the guest quarters and even rolled up her sleeves to help the maidservant serving clotted milk distribute cups to everyone.
Aunt Ge was inwardly impressed. Truly, the daughter of Madam Xiao and General Cheng—despite being neglected by Ge Shi for a decade, she maintained a striking poise, neither haughty nor timid, and without a hint of hesitation.
Madam Xiao frowned, thinking that after spending ten years with Ge Shi, Shao Shang's complete indifference—neither resentment nor compassion—suggested a lack of empathy.
Aunt Ge turned to Cheng Yang and pulled her forward, speaking earnestly. "Don't feel ashamed just because you hear these things. The more you shrink back, the more others will provoke you. Don't lower your head. It's not uncommon for birth parents to separate or even remarry—this isn't your fault. You are a daughter of the Cheng family, and that's all you need to remember. Haven't I taught you this before? What you inherit from your parents isn't just your body but also your character. If your parents are virtuous, learn from them. If they have flaws, take them as warnings. Remember, your words and actions are the finest ornaments you can wear. Now, lift your head!"
Cheng Yang struggled to lift her head, tears welling in her eyes, but she forced her shoulders back. Madam Xiao looked at Aunt Ge with admiration, while Shao Shang set aside her previous disdain. She had assumed that any family capable of raising someone like Ge Shi could not be much better, but now she realized her shortsightedness.
Aunt Ge continued, "They say men should aspire to greatness, but does that mean women must forever depend on their parents? Children grow up and must eventually stand on their own. Elders cannot be your shelter forever. In my youth, I never imagined the world would fall into chaos, rendering all my studies in poetry useless. I had to work tirelessly with your uncle to secure food and protect our household, living in fear every day. And your aunt, who could have foreseen such calamity befalling her? Yet she gritted her teeth and endured."
Tears welled in Madam Xiao's eyes as she whispered, "When my family was destroyed, your sister and the Xiao family gave me immense support." Aunt Ge patted her hand and turned back to Cheng Yang. "Yang Yang, if your life remains smooth, it's by the grace of the gods. But life is long, and many unexpected things may happen. Only with a strong will and a sturdy body can you weather any storm. Wherever you go, stand tall like a great tree, not just supporting yourself, but also sheltering the weak vines and flowers beneath you. Isn't that so? Now that peace is returning to the world, if you can learn even a fraction of your aunt's strength, you'll have nothing to fear."
Shao Shang felt a surge of respect for Aunt Ge, but when she saw Cheng Yang beside her, sobbing uncontrollably and nodding repeatedly, her shoulders trembling, she couldn't help but feel irritated again. Madam Xiao wiped her tears with a smile and said, "Sister, what are you saying? Yang Yang is so gentle and dignified now, all because she learned from you. Who wouldn’t praise her?" The two engaged in a round of mutual flattery, while Shao Shang rolled her eyes inwardly.
After much fuss, Aunt Ge finally reached the main point. With tears in her eyes, she handed Cheng Yang over to Madam Xiao, repeatedly saying, "We come from a small rural area, have never been exposed to the outside world, and are unfamiliar with the rules of the Capital City. Please teach her well. Although Yang Yang is slow, she is honest and obedient. Please do not look down on her. As she spoke, she placed one of Cheng Yang’s hands into Madam Xiao’s, who solemnly accepted the responsibility.
Watching their exaggerated display, Shao Shang mentally rolled her eyes again: even the legendary entrustment at Baidi City[6] couldn’t compare to this.
Fearing they might not meet again easily, Cheng Yang stayed that night to keep Aunt Ge company. Madam Xiao led Shao Shang back, urging her along the way to remember Aunt Ge’s wise words. In truth, Shao Shang wholeheartedly agreed with what Aunt Ge had said earlier, but the incessant nagging only made her resentful.
She quickly interrupted, "...Why don’t we go find Father instead? We should also pay respects to Uncle Ge. But what about Grandfather? I haven’t greeted him yet. How could he retire so early?"
Madam Xiao’s lips curved slightly as she said, "Forget it." The elderly man slept lightly and rarely rested, so he was surely reprimanding his daughter right now.
Having successfully cut short Madam Xiao’s lecture, Shao Shang glanced back as she stepped out of the guest quarters. A faint light glowed in a room three or four partitions to the east of Aunt Ge’s residence.
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Indeed, Grandfather Ge was reprimanding his daughter. Ge Shi wept bitterly, her face streaked with snot and tears, nearly washing away the ointment applied to her cheeks earlier. She kept kowtowing, begging her father, "...Father, is there really no other way? I... I don’t want to divorce Zi Rong! I truly didn’t know you forbade the nephews from entering the Imperial Academy and arranged for another teacher. I thought it was that wretched... er, my husband's sister-in-law who was interfering..."
Grandfather Ge’s expression was icy. "Now you regret it? It’s too late. Don’t blame Madam Xiao for bribing your Mother Fu either. In hindsight, it was for the best. Had you done something truly irreparable, would she have spared you or the Ge family? Tonight, I came to tell you: we leave at dawn tomorrow. Don’t make a scene. Go quietly."
Ge Shi was appalled and shrieked, "Father, how cruel! What will I do back home? Being divorced by the Cheng family will make me a laughingstock! For ten years, I’ve contributed nothing. I…"
"The villagers already know," Grandfather Ge said coldly. "After all these years married into the Cheng family, don’t you understand how General Cheng operates? Did you think he’d spare your dignity? His personal attendant delivered the news, sparing no detail."
Ge Shi fell silent, murmuring, "Everyone knows now..." She had always been proud and domineering among relatives and friends, but now, faced with such humiliation, she was even more unwilling to return home. "I won't go back! I absolutely won't go back!" Ge Shi suddenly screamed hysterically.
Grandfather Ge responded with a backhanded slap, not heavy, but enough to shock her into silence. He said, "Do you think General Cheng is as easy to bully as Zi Rong? If you refuse to leave... Hmph! Do you remember what happened to the families who seized the Xiao family's land and houses during the chaos? How did they leave? If you don't go willingly, he’ll send soldiers to drag you away, whipped and beaten! Do you want to be humiliated like that?"
Ge Shi covered her face, fear creeping into her heart. "Surely, it wouldn't come to that... If the Cheng family treats me this way, won't the villagers criticize them?"
"Even if it weren't the Cheng family, I would still make you leave." Grandfather Ge sighed. "When cattle are whipped, they know to shield their young beneath their bellies; when a mother beast is hunted, she stands in the way so her offspring can escape. But back then, because you resented Madam Xiao for bearing the Dragon-Phoenix Twins, you used the Shaman's words as an excuse, claiming Yang Yang was hindering your own fertility, and heartlessly sent her back home. A child barely a year old! How could you bear to make her travel so far? My heart turned cold that day! Before, when you lacked filial piety, I excused it as childish ignorance. But now, I can no longer deceive myself!"
Ge Shi knelt before her father, grasping the hem of his robe as she begged, "No, no, that's not it..."
"Not only are you cold and ungrateful, but you're also vicious!" Grandfather Ge continued. "The Tian family was poor and relied on the Cheng family's support. Their son followed General Cheng from childhood and remained fiercely loyal after the uprising. How did he die? Protecting General Cheng's retreat, pierced by countless arrows! In the chaos of battle, not even his bones remained!"
Tears streamed down the old man's face. "General Cheng, pitying his elderly mother and widow for their gentle natures, knew that mere gold and silver would only make them targets. So he took them under the protection of his private army, intending for Tian Ding's son to inherit his position when he came of age. Everyone in our village knows this and praises General Cheng's kindness! But you…" Grandfather Ge's anger flared. "That year, when General Cheng sent someone to the Capital City to fetch his daughter, you interfered. The Tian widow spoke out against you in anger. And what did you do? You tried to sell the orphaned mother and child! Such beastly behavior! Did you think no one would find out? A few years ago, when Tian Ding's widow remarried with her new husband's family living nearby, how could rumors not spread? The whole village curses you as inhuman! When the Cheng family divorces you, the people will cheer!"
Ge Shi clung to her father's robe, weeping. "Should I just let those two lowly women slander my name outside?"
Grandfather Ge kicked her away, furious. "First, you wanted to place your own people in the estate, and the Tian widow stood in your way, and you’ve long wanted her gone! Second, were they wrong? Keeping the general's daughter did you no good; you only wanted to make Madam Xiao suffer! Such malice and depravity are rare even in this world!"
Ge Shi had no rebuttal and could only collapse to the ground, wailing.
Grandfather Ge sighed deeply. "For years, you've defied me in everything. That is unfilial. You've ordered your elder brother and his wife around and schemed against General Cheng and his wife. That is disrespectful. You've stirred trouble in your marital home and bullied your husband. That is unvirtuous. Greedy for wealth, you've exploited the general's name to extort money everywhere. That is theft! Such wickedness shames me to call you my daughter! If you won't leave, I'll tie you up and send you away tomorrow!"
Fuming, he got up, swished his sleeves, and exited the room.
As Ge Shi watched her father leave, his unwavering determination etched on his face, a wave of uncertainty washed over her. She felt utterly adrift, grappling with doubt about her own future. How would she endure the shame and disdain of the villagers?
[1] Yang Er : In Chinese, adding "er" (å„¿/å…’) after a first name is a diminutive used as a term of endearment, essentially functioning like adding "-y" or "-ie" (e.g., Johnny or Katie) in English. It implies that the person is cute, youthful, or held in an affectionate, close relationship.
She is also called “Yang Yang”. In Chinese, doubling a character in a first name—such as changing Wei to Wei Wei or Ying to Ying Ying—creates an affectionate, "pet" nickname typically used for children, close friends, or romantic partners. You will rarely see double names used in formal, professional, or academic settings in China.
Editor’s note: Character’s list is available HERE
[2] Ou er is her younger (chubby) brother.
[3] Cheng Yang's father is also named Second Uncle
[4] Shao Shang's father, also named General Shi, married Madame Xiao, also named Yuan Yi.
[5] Ge Shi is Madam Ge and the mother of Cheng Yang, Ou Er, and is married to the Second Uncle.
[6] The Entrustment at Baidi City is one of the most famous and emotionally charged historical turning points in Chinese history. It occurred in 223 AD during the Three Kingdoms period and marks the deathbed scene where Liu Bei (the founding emperor of Shu Han) entrusted his young son and the future of his unstable empire to his chancellor, Zhuge Liang.
According to historical records, Liu Bei wept and gave Zhuge Liang extraordinary authority:
Hearing this, Zhuge Liang threw himself to the ground, weeping so hard he bled, and swore an oath of absolute fidelity:
"I shall do my utmost, offer my loyal service unto death, and never waver."
Liu Bei also instructed his sons to respect and obey Zhuge Liang as they would their own father.
